No, you still need to complete your 12 annual CPD points even if you’re not actively building right now. Fair Trading requires it regardless of whether you’re working on sites.
Don’t Risk Your Licence — Complete Your 12 CPD Points From $169
Whether you’re taking a break or between jobs, your CPD obligation doesn’t pause. Complete it online at your own pace.
Start Your CPD Today
NSW builder licences come with a mandatory obligation: complete exactly 12 CPD points every calendar year. This requirement does not pause, reduce, or disappear just because you’re not actively building on sites right now. Whether you’re between jobs, managing a slowdown, on parental leave, or deliberately taking time off — Fair Trading still expects those points to be done before your next licence renewal.
The biggest myth we hear is “I’m not working at the moment, so I don’t need to worry about CPD.” That’s wrong. This post debunks the five biggest myths NSW builders have about CPD when they’re not actively building.
Myth #1: “I Don’t Need CPD If I’m Not Working Right Now”
This is the biggest myth, and it costs NSW builders their licence renewals every year. CPD is tied to your licence validity, not to whether you’re actively on building sites. Fair Trading requires 12 CPD points per calendar year for all licensed builders — full stop. You could be on holiday, between jobs, managing a business slowdown, or deliberately taking a break from the industry. Doesn’t matter. The requirement is the same.
Licence renewal happens on a set date tied to your original licensing date. When that renewal date arrives, Fair Trading will check: Are your CPD points done? If not, your application gets rejected. You can’t renew your licence until the CPD is complete.
Myth #2: “Retired Builders Don’t Need CPD”
If you hold an active NSW builder licence — residential or pool/spa — you are obligated to maintain your CPD. This applies even if you’re semi-retired or no longer taking on new projects. Retiring from building doesn’t automatically retire your licence obligations. If your licence is still active, the CPD requirements continue. The only way to stop the requirement is to let your licence lapse, which means you can’t work as a licensed builder anymore.
Many builders think “I’m not building anymore, so I can just ignore it.” Then their renewal date arrives and they’re shocked to learn they can’t renew without CPD. By then, it’s urgent and stressful.
Myth #3: “I Can Wait Until My Renewal Date to Do CPD”
You can technically complete CPD any time during the calendar year — including the month before renewal. But here’s the risk: if you wait until the last minute and something goes wrong (course doesn’t load, technical issue, health emergency), you could miss the renewal deadline entirely. Fair Trading doesn’t grant extensions for “I ran out of time.”
Smarter builders spread their 12 points across the year. Do a course a month, or a few points per quarter. That way, if life happens, you have buffer time to catch up before renewal.
Myth #4: “I Can Do CPD After My Renewal Happens”
No. Fair Trading checks your CPD status on your renewal date. If the points aren’t done by that date, your renewal application is rejected. You cannot do CPD after your renewal date and then resubmit. You have to wait, complete the CPD, then lodge a new renewal application — which means a gap where your licence is technically not valid. This creates legal risk if you’re working during that gap.
Mark your renewal date in your calendar. Work backward. Calculate how many points you need each month to hit that date comfortably.
Myth #5: “The CPD Requirement Drops If I’m Not Actively Building”
No. The requirement is always 12 points per calendar year. Not 6 if you’re part-time. Not 8 if you’re between jobs. Not zero if you’re retired but still hold the licence. It’s 12, full stop, every single year you hold a licence.
This is set by the Home Building Act 1989 and NSW Fair Trading. The number is non-negotiable.
The Bottom Line: If You Hold a Licence, You Must Do CPD
- 12 CPD points per calendar year — no reduction for inactive periods
- Applies to all licence types: residential builder, specialist builder, pool/spa builder, limited builder
- Points must be completed BEFORE renewal date — not after
- Applies even if you’re retired, semi-retired, or between jobs — licence status = CPD obligation
- No exemptions for circumstance — health, business slowdown, parental leave, sabbatical — none of it pauses the requirement
- Consequence of non-compliance: licence renewal rejected, cannot legally work as a builder
What Counts as CPD When You’re Not Actively Building?
CPD must come from NSW Fair Trading-approved training. Just because you’re not on-site doesn’t mean you get to pick random courses. Your 12 points must be spread across the 8 approved learning areas: compliance and legal, technical building, business management, WHS, sustainability, customer service, digital literacy, and risk management.
The smartest approach when you’re not actively building is to use the downtime to upskill in business areas — financial management, digital tools, contract administration, dispute resolution. These support your licence renewal and make you sharper when you’re ready to build again.
Not Sure Which Courses to Take? Start Here — From $169
40 Fair Trading-approved courses. All 8 learning areas covered. Complete entirely online at your own pace.
Browse Courses and Register
How to Complete Your CPD While You’re Not Actively Building
Completing CPD during a quiet period is actually ideal. You have time flexibility. No pressure from job deadlines. No site commitments. Here’s how to approach it:
| Step | What to Do | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check your licence renewal date | Today |
| 2 | Calculate months until renewal | Today |
| 3 | Break 12 points into manageable chunks (e.g., 3 points/month) | This week |
| 4 | Choose courses across the 8 learning areas | This week |
| 5 | Register and start first course | This week |
| 6 | Complete all 12 points before renewal date | On schedule |
| 7 | Get your completion certificate ready | Before renewal date |
Objections Answered
How much does CPD cost when I’m not working?
A full 12 CPD points costs $169 with Builders CPD Online (RTO 91528). 36 points costs $449. Since you only need 12 per year, the cost is locked in at $169 — whether you’re actively building or not.
How long does it take to complete 12 CPD points online?
The courses average 2–3 hours per CPD point. So 12 points typically takes 24–36 hours of study time spread over weeks or months. You control the pace — start and stop when you want. Most builders spread it across the year so it’s not overwhelming.
Can I do CPD on my phone or tablet while I’m away?
Yes. All Builders CPD Online courses are mobile-responsive. You can start a course on your laptop, pause it, then continue on your phone from the beach, the cafe, or anywhere else. Download the course materials, watch videos offline if you prefer.
What if my licence renewal date is coming up soon and I haven’t started CPD?
CPD completion is urgent but doable. You can complete all 12 points in 5–7 weeks if you dedicate time. Contact Builders CPD Online support — they can help you plan a fast-track schedule that still covers all 8 learning areas.
Does Fair Trading ever grant exemptions from CPD?
No exemptions. Fair Trading may grant short extensions on your renewal date itself, but not on the CPD requirement. You must have CPD done to renew.
If I let my licence lapse, do I still need CPD to get it back?
Yes. If your licence lapses (you didn’t renew), reactivating it requires showing that you’ve maintained current CPD. Basically, you need to catch up on the years you missed.
Why builders choose Builders CPD Online:
- 12 CPD points for $169 — your full annual requirement covered, whether you’re building or not
- 100% online — complete during quiet periods, on your schedule, no classroom
- 40 courses across all 8 Fair Trading learning areas — pick courses relevant to your situation
- Instant CPD certificate on completion — ready for licence renewal
- Mobile and tablet friendly — study from home, cafe, holiday — anywhere
- No time pressure — spread 12 points across the year or complete fast
- RTO 91528 — registered training organisation delivering CPD since 2004
Complete Your 12 Annual CPD Points — Even If You’re Not Actively Building
Your licence obligation doesn’t pause just because you’re not on-site. 40 Fair Trading-approved courses. All 8 learning areas. From $169.
Call 1300 730 752 or register online.